Cabbage – Collecting Seed

Q: I have had good luck with gathering seeds from plants in both my flower beds and vegetable garden. I need your help in determining how to get seeds from a cabbage.

A: Strictly speaking, cabbage is a biennial which requires cool temperatures around the edible head before it sends up a flower spike. If yours has somehow flowered, allow individual pods to dry to a light brown color before picking and opening by hand. Lower pods dry first, followed by those progressively higher on the plant. Green pods rarely produce viable seeds even if allowed to dry after the plant is pulled. Save the seed in a cool place before planting them this fall.